Becketwell: Auditorium of £45.8m performance venue takes shape

The arena is expected to host about 200 events a year

The auditorium of a new £45.8m performance venue is taking shape.

At Derby's Becketwell venue, the steelwork alongside rows of concrete steps, which will become a tiered seating area, has been put in place.

An overhead steel gantry for lighting and other equipment is also being constructed, say Derby City Council.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield said it was "thrilling" to see it being "built from the 'inside out' with the seating area being installed before the walls".

She said: "The progress of the scheme so far is giving the city a real buzz."

Demolition work for the performance venue began in May 2022, and the project is expected to be completed early in 2025.

The council said in the coming weeks additional steel beams will be fitted to create the roof, which will be ready for the concrete pour in early 2024.

'Exciting milestone'

This will be followed by a layer of insulation, plasterboard and quilting to soundproof the building.

The new venue - which will contain 1,200 tonnes of steel - is on the site of the former Pennine Hotel, Laurie House offices, multi-storey car park and Pink Coconut nightclub in Colyear Street and Padley House in Becket Street.

The 3,500 capacity venue, which is expected to host about 200 events a year, including concerts, stand-up comedy, family shows, musical theatre, exhibitions, and business events, forms the second phase of a £200m regeneration scheme.

It is expected to attract an additional 250,000 visitors to Derby and create over 200 new local jobs, say the council.

Stephen Green, from the main contractor Bowmer +Kirkland, said: "This is an exciting milestone as the purpose of the building is now starting to reveal itself.

"Despite the recent inclement weather, construction is on programme."

The site will be owned by Derby City Council and leased to and operated by ASM Global, which also runs the arenas at Wembley, Manchester and Newcastle, among others.

The arena is being developed alongside 259 apartments, which are now complete, alongside Springwell Square, a multi-purpose space within the development, which opened in September.